ASU Soccer beats Mississippi State in home opener

2011-08-22T00:13:18Z

JONESBORO, Ark. (ASU) – The Arkansas State women's soccer team (1-0-1) continued its undefeated start by stopping Mississippi State, 3-1 in their home opener Sunday afternoon at the ASU Soccer Complex.

ASU took the lead 1-0 in the 13th minute (12:01) when Kara Nitti scored her first goal of the season on a cross from Jessica Jingblad.

Mississippi State evened the score at 1-1 when Amy Hoover took a shot from the left side to the far post on a feed from Tarah Henderson at the 58:34 mark.

Stasha Siers scored the game-winner from the right side in the 76th minute (75:49) after Ashley McMurtry sent an indirect kick into the box.

Michele Clark connected with Jingblad in the 88th minute (87:32) to tack on an insurance goal giving ASU a 3-1 advantage. Clark took the feed and beat an MSU defender one-on-one to score the goal.

ASU outshot Mississippi State 21-17 including posting a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Bulldogs had a hard time staying on sides as they were whistled off 11 times in the contest; as the Red Wolves were caught off just five times.

"Coming in we knew this team would be faster than us and they would be bigger than us and so the trick today to keep the ball on the ground and try to take them on," said head coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge. "At the end of the day it was about Mississippi State not finishing their chances and us being able to finish our chances a little bit better."

Jingblad led the team with four shots while Nitti had three. Bethany Kremer picked up her first collegiate win in goal for the Red Wolves making three saves and improving to 1-0-1 on the season. Skylar Rosson made six saves for the Lady Bulldogs.

The Red Wolves begin a three-game road trip with a game at Central Arkansas on Friday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. against the Bears.